TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Despite losing his election bid in a county south of Jacksonville, a Florida school board candidate will still secure a position on the board due to an appointment by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis.
Derek Barrs will fill a vacancy on the Flagler County School Board in northeast Florida. This appointment follows the resignation of a board member last September, bypassing the need for the position to be filled through a public vote.
Barrs, who works as a consultant at the infrastructure design firm HNTB and is a retired chief of the Florida Highway Patrol, focused his campaign on enhancing school safety and improving student outcomes. Although he received DeSantis’ endorsement during his campaign, he narrowly lost the election on August 20 to Janie Ruddy, a former district teacher, by just 290 votes.
Governor DeSantis has significantly impacted local education policies and political dynamics in Florida, influencing more changes than any of his predecessors in recent years. Under the banner of “parental rights,” he has imposed restrictions on teaching about sexual orientation and gender identity in schools, while also limiting discussions around racism and U.S. history. DeSantis has not only backed a group of candidates aligned with his views but has also aimed to unseat incumbents he disagrees with.
In his endorsement of Barrs, DeSantis stated, “Derek is a candidate who is committed to fighting for schools to get back to the fundamentals. He has pledged to serve on the school board with a focus on student success, parental rights, and curriculum transparency.”
In a discussion regarding his new role, Barrs addressed concerns that he may feel beholden to DeSantis, emphasizing his dedication to fostering community relationships and enhancing educational outcomes for every student. “I don’t owe anybody anything,” Barrs expressed. “My commitment lies with working for our students each day and ensuring they receive the highest quality education within our school district.”
According to state regulations, the governor has the authority to appoint a replacement for a vacant state or county seat if there are fewer than 28 months remaining in the term.
This instance isn’t unique, as it marks another occasion where a candidate backed by DeSantis has lost an election but still ascended to a position of authority. In August, for example, the governor appointed Daniel Foganholi to the State Board of Education after Foganholi failed to retain his seat on the Broward County School Board, losing the election by a significant margin of over 30%. Foganholi had previously been appointed by DeSantis to the school board two times without ever winning an election independently.